आज्जीच्या हातचे, खऱ्या कोल्हापुरी चवीचे

कोल्हापुरी
तिखट मसाला

Kolhapuri Masala · Traditional Spice Blend

One masala instead of four. Slow-roasted from Sankeshwari and Bedgi chillies, dry coconut and thirteen whole spices, in small batches, the way Ajji made it. No preservatives, no colours, and no garam masala on the side.

  • नैसर्गिक
  • पारंपरिक पद्धत
  • निवडक घटक
  • अभिमानाने महाराष्ट्रात निर्मित
Ajji's Kolhapuri Masala pouch on a kitchen table
  • पारंपरिक वाटण
  • Slow-roasted
  • नैसर्गिक मसाले
  • No preservatives
  • निवडक घटक
  • Sankeshwari and Bedgi
  • तिखट आणि खमंग चव
  • No garam masala needed
  • अभिमानाने महाराष्ट्रात निर्मित
  • 100 g · ₹120
  • Small batch · Pune
  • Ships across India
Red chillies sun-drying in a courtyard
Whole spices laid out on brown paper

आज्जीची गोष्ट

Every Kolhapuri kitchen has an Ajji. Ours refused to buy masala.

She dried the chillies on the terrace in April, roasted coconut till the whole lane could smell it, and roasted every spice separately, because each one gives up its aroma at a different heat. Rush it, she said, and you lose the khamang.

Ajji's Spice Co. is that recipe, made in small batches in Pune, exactly her way. It isn't an onion-garlic masala with colour added. It is the real thing: sharp, smoky, and complete on its own.

"वेगळा गरम मसाला घालण्याची गरज नाही."

No extra garam masala required. It is all in here.

Whole spices for Kolhapuri masala scattered on a dark surface

निवडक घटक

Fifteen ingredients · four jobs

Each one has a job.

Keep scrolling. Four jobs, fifteen whole spices, and nothing that did not grow on a plant.

01 · Heat · तिखटपणा

Sankeshwari brings the heat.

Thin, sharp, and clean. Not many of them, just the right ones, dried in April sun.

  • संकेश्वरी मिरची Sankeshwari chilli

02 · Colour · रंग

Bedgi brings the colour.

Mild in heat but bleeds a deep brick red into hot oil. The colour comes from here, not a packet.

  • बेडगी मिरची Bedgi chilli

03 · Body · गाभा

Coconut gives it body.

Roasted dry coconut and coriander thicken a rassa and round off the heat. Garlic and ginger anchor the flavour.

  • सुकं खोबरं Dry coconut
  • धणे Coriander
  • लसूण Garlic
  • आले Ginger
  • मीठ Salt

04 · Aroma · सुगंध

Eight spices you never add again.

The aromatics people mistake for garam masala. Already in here, so the tin stays shut.

  • दालचिनी Cinnamon
  • वेलदोडा Cardamom
  • जावित्री Mace
  • जायफळ Nutmeg
  • तमालपत्र Bay leaf
  • शहाजिरे Caraway
  • बडीशेप Fennel
  • जिरे Cumin

कसं वापरायचं

One spoon does the job of four.

Use it wherever you would add chilli powder and garam masala. Pick a dish; the spoon tells you how much.

Tambda rassa, the red Kolhapuri mutton curry Misal with farsan and pav Pithla with bhakri Bharli vangi, stuffed brinjals
तांबडा रस्सा
Tambda Rassa
2 tsp
per 500 g mutton

Temper in hot oil first for the red sheen, then add the mutton.

It is hotter than you think. Start with half, taste, then add.

Step 1 · फोडणी

Temper in hot oil

Ten seconds, no more. The Bedgi releases its red and the coconut turns nutty.

Step 2 · शिजवा

Skip the garam masala

The aromatics are already in. Adding more only muddies the flavour.

Step 3 · वरून

A pinch on top

Just before serving, for the smell that fills the room.

Hand holding Ajji's Kolhapuri Masala pouch

ऑर्डर करा

Order on WhatsApp. Ajji replies faster than a cart.

कोल्हापुरी तिखट मसाला
Kolhapuri Masala · 100 g pouch · ₹120
Quantity 1
Total incl. taxes
120
Order 1 × 100 g on WhatsApp

Ships across India · Pune in 1 to 2 days · UPI or pay on delivery

लोक काय म्हणतात

  • I stopped buying two separate masalas. My rassa finally tastes like the one at Kolhapur.
    Sneha P. · Kothrud, Pune
  • The colour is from the chilli, not a packet dye. You can tell the moment it hits oil.
    Rohan K. · Mumbai
  • माझ्या आईने पण विचारलं, हा कुठून आणला? That is the highest praise in our house.
    Aditi D. · Kolhapur
  • Half a spoon in pithla and the whole house knew dinner was ready. Coarse, smoky, nothing like the powders in the shop.
    Prasad J. · Sangli
  • मिसळला हाच रंग आणि तिखटपणा हवा होता. आता दुसरा मसाला घेतच नाही.
    Vaishali M. · Hadapsar, Pune
  • Ordered on WhatsApp on Monday, cooking rassa by Wednesday. The pouch reseals properly too.
    Karan S. · Bengaluru

प्रश्न

Things people
ask Ajji.

Close-up of coarse Kolhapuri masala texture
How hot is it?

Properly Kolhapuri, hotter than standard chilli powder. Start with half of what you would normally use, then adjust.

Do I still add garam masala?

No. The blend already has cinnamon, cardamom, mace, nutmeg, bay leaf and caraway. Adding more will muddy it.

Is it vegetarian and vegan?

Yes. Only spices, dry coconut, garlic, ginger, salt and a little refined oil to bind the roast.

How long does it keep?

Eleven months from the batch date in the resealable pouch. Keep it away from steam and sunlight; a glass jar is ideal once opened.

Do you ship outside Maharashtra?

Yes, across India. Message us on WhatsApp with your pin code and we will confirm the courier charge.

कुठे मिळेल

Kitchen and pick-up

No. B1-16, Bramha Angan, Salunke Vihar Road, Kondhwa, Pune 411048

Pick-up by appointment, Mon to Sat, 10am to 7pm. Message before you come; batches sell out.

Get directions →

Delivery times

Pune
1 to 2 days
Rest of Maharashtra
3 to 4 days
Rest of India
5 to 7 days